世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1] [part 2]

goo Research recently conducted a survey to see what people thought about eating out. 2,195 people from the goo Research monitors answered a private internet survey. 48.6% of the sample was male, 18.1% were teenagers, 17.5% were in their twenties, 19.8% in their thirties, 21.5% in their forties, 17.0% in their fifties, 4.6% in their sixties, and 1.6% seventy years old or older.

Since this second half is about discount tokens, I’ll introduce probably about the best English-language discount coupon I know, for Hakkakuan in Daimaru, Osaka. I’ve used it twice, and depending on which staff you get, you get either both of the discounts or have to choose one. Get there just before 5pm and you can get an early dinner at lunchtime prices, including all you can eat silken tofu. Some of the set menus are all vegetarian. Next, whenever you eat out make sure to get a point card from the restaurant if they have one. Many places have such a scheme, and the discounts available amount to usually 5% to 10% off.

Q5: What makes a restaurant one of your favourites for regular meals? (Sample size=1,482, multiple answer)

Food is tasty	80.9%
Price is cheap or moderate	78.3%
Convenient location	69.2%
Staff are well-mannered, friendly	42.7%
Good atmosphere	21.6%
Has point card or regular customer discounts	14.2%
Other	1.8%

Q6: What makes a restaurant not one of your favourites for regular meals? (Sample size=1,482, multiple answer)

Food is not tasty	88.2%
Impolite to customers	83.3%
Slow service	40.8%
Too noisy	39.1%
Regulars get preferential treatment	22.5%
Worse than expected from reviews, etc	21.0%
Other	5.0%

Q7: How often do you have special meals out? (Sample size=2,195)

Twice a week or more	0.2%
About once a week	1.9%
About two or three times a month	9.6%
About once a month	22.5%
About four or five times a year	27.2%
About two or three times a year	25.5%
About once a year	6.7%
Almost never	6.3%

This Q7 deals with more notable eating experiences; a literal translation of the definition is “Special Eating Out is different from regular eating out, it is eating out at a special scene.” Perhaps this implies more dates or parties, rather than just not feeling like cooking or dropping in somewhere for lunch when out shopping. Q3, on the other hand, was for finding out about run-of-the-mill eating out, like grabbing lunch at Starbucks or eating dinner at a ramen stall on the way home from work.

Q8: How do you choose the restaurant for these special meals? (Sample size=2,195)

Because I’ve been before	42.9%
Heard about it on the grapevine	21.7%
From internet restaurant guides (Guru-navi, Hot Pepper, etc)	13.6%
Just came across it	9.7%
From newspaper, television or magazines	5.8%
From internet bulletin boards, etc	5.7%
Other	1.6%

Q9: How does the availability of discount coupons affect your choice of restaurant for these special meals? (Sample size=2,195)

Only choose restaurants if discounts available	1.6%
Will consider other places, but give priority if discounts available	39.7%
Choose based on food or atmosphere, etc, regardless of discounts	57.0%
Because places with discounts appear downmarket, I don’t choose them	1.1%
Other	0.6%

Q10: What makes a restaurant one of your favourites for special meals? (Sample size=2,195, multiple answer)

If the taste is good	81.5%
If the atmosphere or service is good	62.0%
If the price is cheap	50.0%
Regardless of anything, it won’t become a favourite	1.6%
Other	0.9%

[part 1] [part 2]